Paint Handling Tips

Setting up the palette - follow color wheel: cools (G,B,V) & warm (R,O,Y) and white; keep paint from edges; squeeze tubes from bottom and roll up empty portion; squeeze out colors on top edge and L side if R-handed, or R side if L-handed; leave lower edge & middle for mixing.

Mixing colors - think before mixing, choose color/hue to mix & decide exactly which colors to use, don''t poke into several colors on the palette. start with the lighter color, use palette knife to scoop a generous amount and add the other color to it, mix & add from there, keeping mix in one place, don''t spread out too far on palette; can mix colors with a brush - scrub colors together in a circular motion; mix colors with knife get brighter, cleaner mixtures.

Avoiding mud - 2-3 colors & white, 3+ colors = mud; usually use 2 colors. rinse brush in between picking colors, wipe blade with paper towel or paint rag.

Diluting colors - colors are too thick from tube; in beginning, dilute paint with pure solvent for preliminary drawing and block in; then change to 50/50 medium & paint- preserves creamy consistency; keep cups clean, wipe brush hairs with towel/rag or rinse in solvent & dry with towel

Test color mixtures/color charts - to reveal how the colors on your palette behave when mixed with one another; be methodical.
1. get 12 sheets of canvas-textured paper and mark each with one color name
2. mix that color with every other color/hue on your palette and paint a patch 1" square; add white and paint another patch next to it, label with initials; vary proportions of colors - mix in equal quantities, then more of one color & less of the other, then more of the other color with less of the first, and remember to paint and label patches. this is the fastest way to learn how to mix colors.

The pressure of the brush on the canvas influences the application of paint; used lightly or with a heavy touch.

A highlight is best applied thickly.

Seldom use color straight from the tube - mix tones and various hues

Paint smooth things smoothly and rough things roughly.

More medium = wider brush stroke.

Be yourself - don''t copy painting style of others.

Dip brush into white first - keep it clean!

Avoid charcoal or pencil to draw on canvas, tends to dirty the paint

Use the whole scale of tone values; to darken a color use a brighter version of same color; to darken a shadow, glaze it with a dark, transparent wash

Use large, dry brush to "dust away" hard edges; start painting soft edges, sharpen edges selectively; apply paint with tip of brush & leave it alone.

Don''t begin a painting with a bright color; work dark to light.

Use complementary colors side by side

Try optical color mixing - use dots or lines of the components of a color

Paint the way the object grows; mass in clusters, don''t paint individually (grapes)

Details do not make a painting; fundamentals should be your goal.

Step back often; turn canvas upside down; use a mirror; sit or stand.

Squint, squint, squint!

Rules can be broken-once you have mastered the skills!